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Susan M. Schwartz, PhD, RN

  • Assistant Professor
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Affiliated Programs

Education

  • Ph.D., Anthropology (2002)
    Harvard University (MA)
  • MA, Anthropology (1995)
    Harvard University (MA)
  • MSN, Public Health Nursing and Nursing Education
    West Chester University (PA)
  • BSN, Nursing
    Johns Hopkins University (MD)
  • BA, Anthropology
    University at Albany (NY)

About Me

Nursing is my second career. I began working in higher education as an anthropologist specializing in the indigenous cultures of Latin America. While shaping my understanding of diverse peoples and cultures, anthropology also opened my eyes to deep global inequities and the magnitude of human suffering. As an anthropologist I witnessed abject poverty among families living in landfills in Cuba, civil war violence in Guatemala, and the staggering destitution of Honduran street children. I realized that my background in anthropology alone could not address such deeply rooted inequities; but as a nurse, I would have the knowledge and clinical skills of a profession committed to improving the health of people and communities. I enrolled in the accelerated BSN program at Johns Hopkins with the ambition of becoming a global health nurse.


For me, the transition was natural and synergistic: nursing and anthropology share theoretical perspectives, a holistic view, and a concern for the human condition. As a nurse scholar, I bring an anthropological perspective to my research and emphasize diversity and cross-cultural competence in my teaching and service.  Prior to coming to Widener, I was on the faculty at Immaculata University and Rutgers-Camden, where I developed and led several experiential global immersion programs, bringing nursing students to care for indigenous Maya, remote communities in the Amazon, and residents of favelas in Brazil. In recognition of my work bridging anthropology and nursing, I was unanimously elected President of CONAA (Council on Nursing and Anthropology) in 2019 and continue to serve in that capacity.

Research Interests

My scholarship focuses on improving health outcomes for marginalized and vulnerable populations by emphasizing culturally responsive care, social determinants of health and health equity. As an academic and Population Health Nurse, I integrate research into nursing education to prepare healthcare professionals to address complex challenges in practice. My research specifically explores effective methods for teaching and providing culturally responsive, holistic care tailored to diverse populations.

I am currently investigating the integration of social and environmental determinants of health into nursing and population health curricula, particularly to address the needs of victims and survivors of human trafficking. This work also involves identifying strategies to enhance healthcare professionals’ understanding of human trafficking, improving their ability to recognize and respond to the needs of affected individuals.

Publications

  • Ochs, J. Roper, S., & Schwartz, S. (2024). Population Health for Nurses. OpenStax, Rice University.
  • Schwartz, S. (2024). Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Nursing Care. In Ochs, J. Roper, S., & Schwartz, S. M. (Eds.). Population Health for Nurses. OpenStax, Rice University.
  • Schwartz, S. (2024). Environmental Health. In Ochs, J. Roper, S., & Schwartz, S. M. (Eds.). Population Health for Nurses. OpenStax, Rice University.
  • Schwartz, S. (2023). A Cauldron of Tears: Cultural factors and vulnerability in human trafficking. In M. de Chesnay & D. Sabella (Eds.), Human Trafficking: A Global Emergency Perspectives in Nursing, Criminal Justice, and the Social Sciences. Springer Nature.
  • Schwartz, S. & Silva, A. (2023). Cultural competence in caring for victims of sex trafficking: understanding the unique cultural needs, barriers, and challenges of survivors. Council on Nursing & Anthropology Abstracts. Global Qualitative Nursing Research, 10, 1-5. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/epub/10.1177/23333936231180342
  • Norris, S. (2022). The Pandemic Pivot: Lessons Learned from Turning on a Dime. Council on Nursing & Anthropology Abstracts. Global Qualitative Nursing Research, (9), 1-3.
  • Norris, S. (2021). Cancer is hard enough without a pandemic: The impact of COVID-19 on the breast cancer patient’s journey. Council on Nursing & Anthropology Abstracts, Global Qualitative Nursing Research (8), 1-8. 
  • Norris, S. & Lorup, C. (2020) Immersive Global Service Learning and the Development of Cultural Competence: Student Perceptions of a Transformative Process. CONAA Council on Nursing & Anthropology Abstracts, 80th Meeting of the Society for Applied Anthropology, Albuquerque, NM. Global Qualitative Nursing Research, (7), 1-8.
  • Norris, S. (2019). Changing (Dis)Course: Using the Intersection of Perspectives and Practice to Understand the Health Needs of an Urban Community. Council on Nursing & Anthropology Abstracts. Global Qualitative Nursing Research (6), 1-6.

Professional Affiliations & Memberships

  • Council on Nursing and Anthropology (CONAA), President
  • Facing our Risk of Cancer Empowered (FORCE), Research Advocate
  • Eta Beta Chapter, SIGMA, Secretary

Awards

  • Outstanding Nurse Educator Award, Rutgers School of Nursing-Camden, Rutgers
  • Nurse Leader, Sigma Theta Tau
  • Excellence in Teaching Award, Harvard University
  • Civic Engagement Faculty Fellow, Rutgers University